Woodtex in Franklin, Tennessee, recently rolled out a major update to its “Design Your Own Shed” tool. I sat down with our vice president of creative, Paul Farmer, and asked him about his thoughts on the design tool. Q: What are the big changes people will notice when they look[Read More…]
Past Issues
Roseburg Hires Roanoke Timberlands Manager
Roseburg reports that Pete Hancock has accepted the position of Roanoke Timberlands Manager, effective May 7, 2018. In this role, Hancock will oversee the day-to-day harvest and land management activities on Roseburg’s 158,000-acre fee land base in North Carolina and Virginia. A 2001 graduate of Virginia Tech where he earned[Read More…]
Americans Say They Need More Organization Products
Two thirds of American adults claim they could use more home organization products in their home, according to Home Organization in the U.S.: General Purpose, Closets, Garages, and Storage Sheds, 4th Edition, a report by market research firm Packaged Facts. The reality is, America has reached “peak stuff,” with too many[Read More…]
Working It All Out
The shed industry, like all other industries, has its fair share of unique characters. I’ve worked with many different kinds of personality types over the last 15 years. Some of my co-workers have been very pleasant to deal with, and some have been, well, not so much. The key to[Read More…]
Classic Planed Line Re-opens in Finland
Stora Enso Wood Products division will re-open its classic planed line at its Varkaus sawmill in Finland this April, the company reports. The planing line was closed in January 2013 due to decreasing demand, but the combination of the new laminated veneer lumber (LVL) production and the planing opens up[Read More…]
Working Harmoniously Together, Part 2
Joseph Miller has been involved in construction most of his life. His father was a brick and stone mason in Virginia Beach, training his four sons (there are also two daughters) in the masonry business. As the sons got older and were ready to take on more responsibility, Miller, the[Read More…]
DeWalt Introduces Sledge Hammers and Axes
Tool manufacturer DeWalt has introduced a new line of seven ExoCore™ Sledge Hammers and three Axes all featuring carbon fiber composite handles for durability, overstrike protection, and light tool weight. These are the first-ever DeWalt sledge hammers and axes, according to the company. Available in 6-, 8-, and 12-pound versions[Read More…]
Training as Motivation
I was coaching a production foreman recently who believed he had a problem with employee motivation. I learned a trick from a respected doctor a while back where you don’t agree with a patient’s self-diagnosis until you have researched it a bit further yourself. I was glad I did, upon[Read More…]
LITIGATION 101: For the Defense
Congratulations! Your shed-building business is a success. Customer orders are flowing in, employee morale is high, and you might even take a short vacation. Then you hear from a disgruntled customer, whose gripe may or may not have any legitimacy, and nothing you suggest will appease them. Next thing you[Read More…]
Pitching Site Prep
What’s the most difficult part of shed installation for your business? Is it getting together all the materials you need? Finding the right people to help speed through the installation? Could it possibly be dealing with your customer’s site preparation? When asked about how they prepare their customers for site[Read More…]
